A couple of realizations have emerged from the National Gathering of the Latina/o Theatre Commons in Boston. Among them are two that pertain specifically to the knowledge and accessibility of Latina/o plays. We recognize that: 1. There is a great need for a catalog or list of Latina/o works for the general public, and 2. we need to determine which plays we presently consider to be influential works to us as theater makers.

We conducted a survey, soliciting and receiving dozens of submissions. We also created a word-cloud that highlighted the names of the individuals and plays which inspired us as well as works that should be included in the canon of great dramas.

From this survey I created a list of 101 works, most of which were gleaned from the survey, but others that readers may not have read or heard of. Ideally, this is a list that needs to be made widely accessible to educators, theater practitioners, and students. The works range from commercial successes to rare and deeply personal plays that need to be rediscovered and reexamined.

In other words, this is a list of plays that educators, theater practitioners, and students should have access to. I believe these 101 works mark only the beginning of a comprehensive survey of the great dramas that resonate and connect with Latina/o theater makers and those who appreciate their impact and influence. Most plays listed here are published; however, some like Tatiana Suárez-Pico’s Flesh and Blood, Law Chávez’s Señora de la Pinta, and Christina Hjelm’s Casualties of Dreams and Sand still await publication and productions. The works are made by, for and with Latina/os, but not always all three at the same time. Although the list is confined to only one drama by each of the 101 playwrights, many on the list have also written a number of other powerful plays on the Latino experience.

There are plays which were misunderstood by critics, such as Raul Castíllo’s Knives and Other Sharp Objects, a gem of a play, and Alejandro Morales’ marea, a poetic dream play that are yearning for rediscovery. There are plays that have pushed the boundaries of what constitutes a Latina/o aesthetic, like Quiara Alegría Hudes’ Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue and Luis Alfaro’s Oedipus El Rey. And there are works that celebrate the complexities and contradictions of who we are as a multidimensional group living in the U.S. today, including but not limited to Lemon Andersen’s County of Kings, Nilaja Sun’s No Child…, and Lackawanna Blues by Ruben Santiago-Hudson.

We recognize that: 1. There is a great need for a catalog or list of Latina/o works for the general public, and 2. we need to determine which plays we presently consider to be influential works to us as theater makers.

A few important things to consider:

Just as one play does not define a playwright, nor represent an entire culture, neither does this list intend to define or represent “Latina/o theater.” It is also not a ‘greatest hits’ type of list; rather, these are works that resonate and therefore serve as an invitation for further exploration. Take every opportunity to read a work from the list and see what inspires you to go in search of additional works by the same author or theme. There are connections amongst these plays that I had no idea existed until I started to put it all together. I was struck by how “honor” (a theme which holds great weight from the plays of Golden Age Spain) connects the plight of Mexican day laborers in Michael John Garcés’ Los Illegals, to the steadfast Cuban protagonist of Eduardo Machado’s The Cook, to Papo & Lulu’s journeys towards redemption in El Grito del Bronx by Migdalia Cruz.

Secondly, Latinidad is difficult to define. This list resists ranking or canonization of the works. Rather, the plays are listed in alphabetical order by title. Despite the fact that many of us are deeply influenced by work by such authors as Lorca, Lope de Vega, Calderon de la Barca, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, among others, their works are not included on this list. The intent was to include plays that have had significant impact on U.S. artists and audiences alike, but do not receive the level of attention or circulation given to European or Northern Hemispheric works.

Finally, it bears repeating there is no litmus test for what Latinidad is. We are not a singular identity nor static in nature. I expect that over time—as was expressed at the Latina/o Theatre Commons National Gathering—the term “Latinidad” may evolve into another thing altogether. In 2046, when Latina/os become the majority in the U.S. no one knows whether or not we’ll still be constrained by geopolitical boundaries, language and skin color. But today, in examining these works, my hope is that we will begin to understand the breadth of our universal humanity.

As affirmed at the Convening, we are The New Americans.

So without further ado, here is the list. Feel free to chime in with your thoughts or favorites in the comments below. And I apologize for any omissions in advance.

Comments

There's a big time omission: LA GRINGA by Carmen Rivera, which is one of the most successful plays in the history of Latino Theater. 21 years in Repertorio Español and with many productions nationally. It just had an extended sold out run in Chicago's Urban Theater Company.

Thank you so much for posting this list. However, I'm trying really hard to find some of these I can't seem to find them. Do you know where I might be able to find these other than on Amazon and Barnes and Noble?

Thanks Tlaloc. This is an awesome idea to put our plays in a list like this. Just want to add TONY GARCIA, "El Sol Que Tu Eres". He has written and produced over 30 of his plays and he won a USA Artists award.

Love who you included. So honored to be included. I'd offer Bótainica by Dolores Prida. She has a great anthology called Beautiful Senoritas and Other Plays (Arte Publico Press), Cuba and His Teddy Bear (Reinaldo Povod), the plays of Tony Garcia (Su Teatro, Denver), Rupert Reyes' Petra Series (Petra's Pecado, Austin, TX been on the road for years starring Ruby Nelda Perez), San Antonio's Alicia Mena's Las Nuevas Tamaleras, the plays of Silviana Wood (Tucson), Fantasmaville (Raul Garza, Austin), Ghetto Babylon (Michael Mejias), into the Pines (Beto O'Byrne). Be on the look out for the plays of Vanessa Garcia (Miami), Ricky Martinez (Miami), and Milta Ortiz (AZ, Calif.). And thanks, Armando, for adding Evangeline Ordaz. May we have 101 lists every couple weeks. Soar, Latino playwrights, soar. May all your plays be produced many times.

Thank you Tlaloc. Of course some will agree with your choices some not, with your methodology-some not, some names are perhaps missing BUT this is important and historical. And we all should thank you and add these names and the missing ones to our own lists.

Thank you, Tlaloc, for compiling this great list. I'd add "Visitors' Guide to Arivaca" by Evangeline Ordaz. It has received either full or workshop productions at 4 different theaters in the Southwest including Teatro Vision and Denver Center, and was the cover feature of American Theater Magazine in 2006.

This is a great list and much needed! I would like to offer No Where on the Border by Carlos Lacámara which won Nuestras Voces some years ago and La gringa also by Carmen Rivera (#47) which has been running at Repertorio Español since 1996! Looking forward to reading some of the plays I am not familiar with and very glad to see some of my favorites make it on the list! Thank you Tlaloc! -Allison

great list, but we are missing a good part of Latina/os' contribution to theater, the one that has been written in Spanish by the likes of Dolores Prida, Julio Matas, Matias Montes Huidobro, Leopoldo Hernandez, Cristina Rebull, Diana Cherry-Ramirez, Mario Diamant, Grupo Pregones' plays, to name a few...

Absolutely. Dolores Prida should be on any list. Many ensemble works (like LA VICTIMA by Teatro de la Esperanza) and about 50 other plays/writers couldn't fit the list due to space limitations. Perhaps we can create the next 101 play list? ;-)

Tlaloc, you are a prince! Thank you so much. And I am always amazed, humbled and honored when I read the names on this list. I know many of these folks and they are incredible writers whose plays deserve to be adored.

Gracias, Tlaloc. I'm very honored to be included. And I know all these people have more. Seems like there must be a 21st Century distribution method to make these works available to all. I know there's plenty on this list I'd like to read. Viva!

What a phenomenal list! It's inspiring to see the breadth of Latina/o works representing the New Americans and thanks Theater Commons for starting the conversation. Looks like I have a lot of reading to catch up on!

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